Getting enough sleep is vitally important. Research from The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine says that adults should get 7 hours or more sleep per night for optimal health and well-being. Unfortunately, this isn’t the amount of sleep that most people get.
“More than a third of American adults are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis,” the CDC writes.” And “sleeping less than seven hours per day is associated with an increased risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and frequent mental distress.”
There are many approaches people can use to get better sleep, but one of the lesser-known treatments many experts recommend is massage therapy. Researchers have found massage therapy to be highly effective for improving sleep for everyone across the board.
According to The American Massage Therapy Association, it’s beneficial for children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Massage therapy can also improve sleep for people with specific health issues such as:
- Lower back pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Migraines
- Cancer
In terms of the science behind why massage therapy works, it all comes down to the chemicals released in the body during a session. Massage therapy produces serotonin. This helps with multiple parts of the body’s functioning, including eating, digestion, mood, and sleep. It is also what enables the brain cells and nervous system to communicate with each other. “Serotonin is responsible for stimulating the parts of your brain that control sleep and waking,” the Hormone Health Network explains.
By producing serotonin, the quantity and quality of sleep improves. This brings a positive effect for those suffering from insomnia and other sleep disorders. In addition, massage therapy reduces stress and promotes muscle relaxation. It also improves blood flow and helps to remove toxins from the cells, which makes the skin have a healthy glow.
As for specific types of massage that are best for improving sleep, the deep tissue massage is an excellent choice. This treatment focuses on relieving chronic muscle tension and pain to eliminate knots and tight spots. The pressure level can be easily adjusted according to your personal preference. Also, the relaxation massage which involves soothing, gliding, and kneading strokes, can greatly improve relaxation, and increase circulation, helping to promote better sleep.
If you’ve been dealing with sleep issues, come visit Colibri Day Spa in Sarasota today and let us help you get back on track. Give us a call at (941) 800-1818. Or reach out to us through our contact page.